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In 2010, the then-53-year-old bespectacled academic became the face of Chinese swinging when he was arrested for “group licentiousness.” Although one of 22 charged, it was Ma’s refusal to quietly roll over and plead guilty, coupled with his professorial status, that made him a cause célèbre; it was thusly revealed, to many in China, that orgies are technically illegal.

The case symbolized the division between an older, staunchly conservative establishment and its more progressive, post-Reform juniors, who take freewheeling, pluralistic runs at formerly forbidden fare.

For polyamorous communities to become more accepting, organizers need to look to the inclusivity and discussions created on these blogs. They need to create groups and meetups without the idea of what the polyamorous community “should” or “is expected” to look like. The idea that polyamory is a “white thing” has been ingrained in our culture for so long that group creators, intentionally or not, might not think about what rules and word choices make people of color feel ostracized.

Eventually, I realized, wow, I’m emotionally invested in my clients. They’re getting this safe space. The ways that patriarchy impacts men, they can’t really be submissive in a lot of contexts. They come to me looking for a safe space to explore the parts of them that may not be seen as masculine, or they might have a lot of shame around. They may not have opportunities to be their full selves in a lot of ways, including sexually, because of those societal constraints.

Ana’s newfound playfulness is thanks, in part, to Johnson. Critics across the board agreed that the lead actress' performance is the film's only redeemable quality. Peter Travers from Rolling Stone writes that the action-packed plot "does give Johnson — a clever actress who deserves much better — a reprieve from getting trussed up naked and pawed by her costar.” The Guardian’s Benjamin Lee praises Johnson for remaining “a compelling presence, trying her darnedest with lifeless words, but, again, she’s stranded by the energy-sucking vortex of nothingness that is Jamie Dornan. He’s better than this (as he has shown with menace in The Fall) but he knows it and his boredom is lazily apparent throughout."

"[Ask yourself questions like] What are the goals of each of you in this BDSM relationship. Is it 24/7? Is it habitual? Are you both aware and respecting of your boundaries and intentions? Have you communicated your needs before and after play or scenes?" advises Jean. "There are many things to think about before you dive head first into a power dynamic relationship. The control — or lack of control — can be intoxicating, though it comes with much responsibility."

Now, Schechinger is leading an effort to get the American Psychological Association to create a task force on CNM relationships as part of the APA’s Division 44 (also known as the Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues). Division 44’s mission is to study “sexual minorities and individuals” so their particular psychological needs can be addressed.

If you're looking to branch out with your partner, start by talking about your fantasies and go from there. "When I have dated people who feel that I’m kinkier than they are, we start with their fantasies and build from there," Vincent says. So start by just trying to open up the lines of communication — and see where you go.

And considering that almost half of Americans are kinky, there's a decent chance your partner will be into trying something new too. Here's what EdenFantasys found.

If a structured class doesn’t suit, just a little open-mindedness can go a long way. “Those in the BDSM community are some of the best communicators and the most versed in boundaries and consent, and caring for their partner’s needs,” says Fokos. “It would be amazing to see these healthy, communicative practices as prevalent in the mainstream as they are in the kink world.”